Grate



y 23, 1951 J. w. PETERSON ET AL 2,985,165

GRATE Filed Feb. 24, 1958 JZ/VsA/nms. Kezua A. Yaw/ma ma, Cid/10V WpErEQsv/U,

" atent fiicg Patented May 23, 1961 2,985,165 GRATE John W. Peterson, 5506 Paseo de Pablo, Torrance, Calif., and Kazuo A. Yamakawa, 950 Lake St., Venice, Calif.

Filed Feb. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 736,653

(Filed under Rule 47(a) and 35 U.S.C. 116) 6 Claims. (Cl. 126-465) This invention relates to grates and more particularly to an improved grate for the burning of synthetically manufactured logs in an open or partially open fireplace.

' In recent years there has been an increase in fireplaces built into the walls of private dwellings. This has been especially true in urban areas where natural logs are not readily available. A synthetic log made of compressed saw dust, and the like, shaped into cylinders having predetermined dimensions are probably the most widely used fuel being burned in these home fireplaces.

Synthetic logs are inherently diflicult to burn, as the successful burning of these smooth barkless logs is sensitive to the spacing between the logs in the grate. This is due to the fact that most of the burning takes place on the surface between two closely spaced logs only. It has been experimentally determined by the inventors that the spacing between the logs is critical within a predetermined range.

In grates according to the present art, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 1,385,931 entitled Grate- Basket by P. F. Semonin, issued July 26, 1921 and British Patent No. 173,344 entitled Improvements in Domestic Firegrates by F. M. Wineberg, complete accepted January 5, 1922, a fixed log spacing is difiicult to maintain. The grates disclosed in both of these patents are essentially flat bottomed. When two synthetic logs, for example, of the type hereinabove mentioned, are burned, they have a tendency to burn mostly at the surfaces facing each other. After a time the sections of the logs closest to the burning surfaces are burned away, leaving a burned out moon shaped section on each log. Thus, the center of gravity of each log will shift away from these sections causing the logs to roll away from one another increasing the spacing between them. As the spacing between the logs has been determined to be critical to maintain a satisfactory fire, the fire soon will deteriorate due to this change in spacing.

The grate of the present invention is so constructed as to maintain the predetermined critical spacing between the burning logs as they are consumed by burning.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a grate having a V-shaped base portion with an upright spacer provided at the center of the V to maintain a constant spacing between the logs which logs are forced down to the trough of the V.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved grate for burning logs which will maintain optimum burning of the logs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a grate for a fireplace which will maintain two central logs to be burned at a predetermined spacing one from the other during the entire period of combustion.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be' better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is-to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only,

2 and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment of a grate in accordance with the present invention showing two synthetic logs supported thereby;

Figure 2 is an end view of the grate of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the grate shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure -4 is an end view of an alternate embodiment of a grate in accordance with the present invention designed to burn three logs;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the grate of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end view partly in section of an alternative design of the upright spacers permitting removal of the support for the third log of the Figure 4 embodiment;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the grate of Figures 4 and 5; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative upright spacer and upper log support for the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown one embodiment of the grate of the present invention. The grate includes a substantially V-shaped bottom including inclined sections 12 and 13 which support logs 10 and 11. For the purposes of clarity it will be assumed that only two logs are to be used as fuel in the grate of this embodiment. It will, however, be appreciated that more logs could be accommodated by disposing them on either side of logs 10 and 11. It will further be assumed that the logs to be used as fuel in the embodiments shown are of the synthetic type as previously discussed herein. This is done to point out the particular advantages inherent in the grate of the present invention in the burning of these synthetic logs which are far more difficult to burn than are natural logs. It will be understood, however, that natural logs may also be burned in this grate.

While the bottom has been shown as being in the shape of a V with fiat angular sections, curved sections may alternately be used in their stead. The inclined sections 12 and 13 each include a plurality of cross bar members 20 joined together by transverse members 21 and 22. The term inclined section as used herein is intended to include a curved, as well as a fiat section. Cross bar members 20 may be separate short metal bars joined together at the trough of the V or one continuous member bent or formed to assume a V-shape. Transverse members 21 and 22 may conveniently be brazed or welded to member 20.

Vertical separator or upright spacer bars 23 are provided to extend upward from the trough between sections 12 and 13, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Therein are provided four bars 23 each meeting central cross bar members 20 at the intersections as shown; of course, more or fewer spacer bars 23 may also be provided. The four bars 23 shown herein have been found to be a convenient design by the inventors.

Supporting legs 15, 16, 17 and '18 are spaced out near the raised portions of the inclined sections 12 and 13 and are of such a height as to maintain the lowest point of the bottom of the grate at an elevation from the horizontal. The supporting legs may be joined to the bottom of the grate by welding or the like. There may be four supporting legs, i.e., one in each corner or some other convenient number to adequately support the bottom of the grate together with the fuel to be burned.

The angle of incline shown in Figure 2 has been experimentally found by the inventors to be best for the purposes stated, it limited within the range from 10 to 35.

The spacing between the logs I]. and 12 should preferably be limited within the range from A" to A" with a 4" diameter log to optimize burning in accordance with the objects hereinbef o'r'e set forth. Accordingly, the diameter of separation bars 23 should be in the range from A to A of an inch. If diflerent size logs are used, the dimensions may be proportionally varied in a manner as would be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the objectives herein disclosed.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the grate of the present invention.

Basically, the difference between the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 and that of Figure 4 is the provision of a support for a central third log 35. In this embodiment all of the other parts of the grate are the same as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 with the exception of the separator bar 30. In the Figure 4 embodiment the separator'bar 30 unlike bar 23 of Figures 1, 2 and 3 has an upper V section 36 to support log 35.

Also the height of bar 30 must be greater than bar 23 where logs of 4 inch diameter for example, are to be burned. This difierence in height is required to produce the desired optimum spacing between the upper log 35 and lower logs 10a and 11a. This spacing, i.e., between the upper log 35 and lower logs 10a and 11a has been found to give the best results in accordance with the stated objects of the invention, if maintained in the range from A" to 1". In this alternate embodiment the spacing between the lower logs may either be maintained as for the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 or increased slightly on the higher side of the range to a'distance approaching 1 inch. Again, if larger or smaller diameter logs are to be burned appropriate changes in dimensions may be made by one skilled in the art in accordance with the stated objectives of this invention.

Figure shows a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 4 in which a separator is placed at each cross bar junction. In this figure and in Figure 4 all of the parts which are equivalent to those of the first described embodiment have the same number followed by the letter a.

In Figure 6 there is shown another alternative embodiment of the invention. Herein, there is provided in the grate of Figures 1, 2 and 3, a central hole 44 in the separator bar 40 to accommodate removable Y-shaped member 43 which has a V-shaped section 41. With this type of separator bar in place of bars 23 in the first embodiment, one may alternately have use of either of the first two embodiments by merely inserting or removing members 43 from vertical bar 40 or placing the same therein as desired. 'An added feature which may be added to the embodiment of Figure 6 is the provision of a height adjustment of member 43 within separator bar 40. This may be accomplished by a threaded hole 4s through the wall of bar 40 to receive a set screw 49, thus permitting the upper log 35 to be raised or lowered at will. The height adjustment feature of member 43 may alternatively be achieved by the use of a series of spaced holes within the vertical portion of member 43 to receive a pin instead of a threaded screw 49.

One arrangement for the use of members 430 similar to 43 of Figure 6 in combination with the first embodiment of this invention is shown in Figure 7. Therein the two members 43a each fit into holes 44 of bar 40. A central log supporting member 57 having several V- shaped supports 59 is connected at either end by welding;

by insertion within a notched hole'o-r the like, to support a third log. Two central spacers 23 are also provided as shown to insure proper spacing between the two lower logs to be burned. V

In Figure 8 an alternative central supporting member 50 is shown in place of S5 in Figure 7. Member 50 may be made of tubing or the like for ease of manufacture. Member 50 has extending legs 60 to fit withinholes-54 of supports 52. r

There has thus been described a new and novel grate which insures optimum burning of synthetic logs and the like with each of the various spacers, cross-members, and the like, may be made otheat resisting metal of any desired cross-section including, but not limited to the following: rod, tubing, cored tubing, strip T-beam and I-beam.

What is claimed as new is: g

1. A fireplace-grate for burning at least two cylindrical synthetic logs comprising: a bottom including first and second inclined sections, said sections each being at a predetermined angle with the horizontal and being joined together to form a V-shape; support means adapted to support said bottom at an elevation; vertical separator means adapted to maintain a constant spacing between two logs supported by said first and second inclined sections; means for supporting a third log spaced above and equidistant from said two logs, said last named means being removably supported by said vertical spacer means; and means for adjusting the vertical position of said last named means.

2. The grate defined in claim 1 wherein said angle is in the range from 10? to 30.

3. The grate definedin claim 1 wherein said constant spacing is within the range of from one quarter inch to three quarter inch.

4; A fireplace grate for burning at least two substantially cylindrical logs comprising: a bottom including first and second inclined sections, said sections each being at a predetermined angle with the horizontal and being joined together to form a V-shape; support means adapted to support said bottom at an elevation; and verticalseparator means adapted to maintain a constant spacing in the range from A" to /1" between two logs supported by said first and second inclined sections, whereby said V-shape of said bottom together with said vertical separator means serve to maintain the constant spacing between the fuel elements to be burned during burning thereof. I I a p r 5. A fireplace grate for burning at least two substantially cylindrical logs comprising: a bottom including first and second inclined sections, said sections each being at a predetermined angle with the horizontal and being joined together to form a V-shape; support means adapted to support said bottom at an elevation; vertical separator means adapted to maintain a constant spacing in the range from A to 4" between two logs supported by said first and second inclined sections; and means for supporting a third log spaced above and equally distant from said two logs, said last named means being removably supported by said vertical spacer means. H

6. A fireplace grate for burning at least two substantially cylindrical logs comprising: a bottom including first and second inclined sections, saidisections each being at a predetermined angle with the horizontal and being joined together to form a trough of'transverse V-shape; support means adapted to support said bottom at an elevation; and a plurality of identical vertical Y-shaped members in spacedalignment along the center line of said trough and oriented in planes perpendicular to said line, said Y-shaped members being of a suflicient size for supporting a third log spaced above and equidistant from logs disposed in said bottom on either side of said Y-shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,800 Keferstein Ian. 24, 1905 2,408,935 Kunst .V. Oct. 8, 1946 2,585,523 Wellman Feb. 12, 1952 g V FOREIGN PATENTS 71,369 Great Britain (1913 173,344 GreatBritain Jan. 5, 1922 43,964 Sweden Apr. 24, 1918 

